One of
the most popular and endearing films produced
in the 1990's is undeniably Benny &
Joon. Director Jeremiah Chechik and Screenwriter Barry Berman (who
crafted
the superb story with Leslie McNeil) brought a sense of genuine emotion
to this
unique and bizarre story of unconditional love. This is a wonderful and
inventive romantic comedy sure to delight with it's remarkable
direction,
sublime writing, complimentary cinematography, impressive costumes, and
memorable music. This is a film that actually manages to be that
satisfying.

Benny
(Aidan Quinn) is a down on his luck mechanic
who helps looks after his sister Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), who is
mentally
ill. Benny might not be helping Joon as effectively as he thinks he
actually is
though. As it turns out, Joon longs for some more independence from her
brother
and is both sweet and charming when she is not facing the difficulties
of her
illness. A misunderstood, film-loving, Chaplin and Keaton
impersonating, high
spirited young guy by the name of Sam (Johnny Depp) soon enters their
lives
when his livelihood (for a couple of days) is placed in a Poker game
bet that
Benny loses. Rather begrudgingly, Benny agrees to let him into their
home and
it isn't long before a connection between Sam and Joon begins to
develop. The
story primarily focuses on the relationships between these three
characters and
how the involvement of the strange newcomer Sam affects both Joon and
Benny's
lives.

The
element that is immediately going to encourage
an individual's attention is the superb performances found from the
entire
cast. Aidan Quinn brings a sense of brotherly love that is clearly
affectionate
and believable; yet it is also quite obvious, through this performance,
that
Benny is also struggling through a lot of his own personal issues.
Quinn helps
make the character inherently likeable, sympathetic, but also flawed.
This has
as much to do with his careful nuance as an actor as it is a credit to
the
strong screenplay. Mary Stuart Masterson is charming and delightful as
Joon. It
is easy to care about her character and to see exactly why her brother
Benny is
so determined to help her. The standout performance, of course, belongs
to the
young Johnny Depp. This was one of his greatest early roles and it
manages to
be one of my favorite performances of the actor even today. His comedic
sensibilities and physical timing is on great display with this film
and it is
utterly impossible to not recognize the dynamic acting force he brought
to the
role. Many scenes have little to no dialogue for the Sam character and
yet we
see the Depp develop the role through careful mannerisms that add even
more credibility
to the part. Substantial supporting character performances are also
given by
some truly wonderful actors such as Julianne Moore, Oliver Platt, and
William
H. Macy.

The
screenplay and direction manage to bring tenderness
to the film that could have easily been overlooked by less gifted
filmmakers.
The story somehow manages to seem entirely believable even when there
are
elements to the plot that may feel reminiscent of classic fairy tales.
This is
a film that understands how to focus on the relationships between the
characters.
Benny & Joon is ultimately about finding
love, recognizing friendships, and the remarkable importance of family.
These
are positive themes for a positive film that never panders to audiences
who
might expect for these elements to be treated with simplicity.

This may
actually be one of my all time favorite
films. It seems as though every time I sit down to watch Benny
& Joon again, I find that it is another freshly rewarding
experiencing for me. Each viewing of the film pushes my love of the
story,
performances, and direction farther along. This is definitely a film
with great
replay value. I could put it on whenever I feel down about something
and it
would manage to make me feel as though everything will work out in the
end
(plastering a smile on my face during the process). It is a testament
to the
film's long-lasting success and the love it has achieved in movie-buff
hearts
everywhere.

The
Blu-ray:

Video:

Benny
& Joon is
presented on Blu-ray with an
impressive 36 MBPS AVC encoded transfer that preserves the original
theatrical
exhibition ratio of 1:85:1 on a 50 GB Dual Layer disc. The video
presentation for
Benny & Joon might not be perfect
as there is a sense of some inherent softness to the image, but it is
also
sharper and more beautiful on Blu-ray than it ever was on the DVD
format. The
transfer is almost entirely clear of any print damage, dirt, or other
annoying
print ailments and instead offers a clean and pleasing image that seems
to
faithfully reproduce the film's beautiful photography. No annoying
issues
with DNR are present either - making this a solid upgrade all around.

Audio:

The
audio receives a nice upgrade with a pleasing DTS-HD Master Audio
lossless track
in 2.0 English. While a surround sound mix would have been an enjoyable
inclusion
this track is one of the better 2.0 tracks I have heard on Blu-ray. The
audio
is well defined and with strong clarity throughout. The dynamics of
mixing the
score, dialogue, and other sound effects is appropriately balanced.
There is a
definite notable upgrade in this lossless mix. This release also
includes
French Dolby Surround, and Spanish Mono tracks. Subtitles are included
in Spanish,
French, and English for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Extras:

The
supplemental material featured on this Blu-ray release match earlier
editions
on DVD and (gasp!) laserdisc.
Look on the bright side: the included
supplemental features may not be new but they are all certainly
memorable and
worth a spin (or listen). A feature-length commentary
track is included by director Jeremiah Chechik. It's an informative
commentary that mostly seems to reveal details on how he approached
certain
scenes and also how he worked with the actors. It feels like a personal
and
somewhat down to earth recording, and yet manages to focus on a number
of
technical elements. The pacing is slow; presumably a result of Chechik
formulating his thoughts, but it's an enjoyable listen. Two short deleted scenes are also included -- one
of which focuses on the "movie within the movie" found in Benny &
Joon (it's
a few minutes of that silly horror flick). The second deleted scene is
of Sam
(Depp) having his audition that was mentioned but never shown in the
film.
These deleted moments also contain commentary from the director (which
is the
only viewable option - the commentary is included on the lone audio
track). The
best extra might be an included Costume,
Make-Up Test and Stunt Reel that is accompanied by commentary by
the
director of photography John Schwartzman. This extra provided insights
into how
the film was made from the photographer's viewpoint and it was an
easily
engaging, informative, and entertaining extra and should be essential
viewing
for fans of the film. Rounding out extras on this release is a Music Video for "I'm Gonna Be (500
Miles)" by The Proclaimers. It's a great one-hit-wonder song that was
effectively used in the film in a way that is truly memorable and will
have
viewers smiling. The music video itself has a dated 80's vibe to it
(even
though the video was made in the 90's). Lastly, the original theatrical
trailer
for the film itself is included.

Final Thoughts:

Benny
&
Joon is best
described as one of the most memorable and
charming romantic comedies made in the 1990's. The film radiates
romance in a
groove that feels genuine and heartfelt. The performances are also
stellar. The
script and direction even prove to be richly rewarding. The Blu-ray
features some
nice supplements and a strong upgrade in the PQ/AQ. Consider adding
this
wonderful treasure to your film collection. Highly Recommended.

Neil Lumbard is a lifelong fan of cinema, and a student who aspires to make movies. He loves writing, and currently does in Texas.